FRANKLIN — Two women were charged with drug offenses after a police search turned up more than three pounds of marijuana, plus scales, paraphernalia, and cash, the Somerset County Prosecutor's office said.

Donna Walters, 44, and Sheena Brown, 23, both of Minetta Road in the Somerset section of Franklin Township, were charged with marijuana and paraphernalia offenses after a detectives' search of their shared residence, according to a statement from Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey D. Soriano, Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Acting Chief of Detectives Timothy Fitzgerald and Franklin Township Chief of Police Lawrence Roberts.

At about 6:15 p.m. Friday, detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force along with members of the Franklin Township Police Department executed a superior court search warrant at the residence, the statement said.

The prosecutor's office did not release details of the investigation that led detectives to the Walters home.

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Detectives entered the home as Walters was trying to escape from a basement door, but she was stopped and found to have $470 in cash in her possession, the statement said.

Task Force members seized about 3.5 pounds of marijuana, two digital scales, plastic baggies and a ledger used to record drug deals from a table in the basement, the statement said. Detectives also seized empty wax folds, rubber bands, a sifter and other drug paraphernalia, the statement said.

The seized marijuana has an estimated street value of $17,500, the statement said.

Brown, who was found outside the home as the search warrant was executed, was found to be carrying under 50 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, the statement said.

Walters was charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, and possession of drug paraphernalia, the statement said.

Brown was charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia, the statement said.

Walters was lodged in the Somerset County Jail with $25,000 cash only bail set by Judge Robert Reed of state Superior Court in Somerville, the statement said.